Rodin Flash Sits Down With TMI To Talk About His New Album “Success vs. Regret”

So you started your music career at a very young age, did you always know you wanted to be a producer & DJ?

Actually, no. I wasn’t really big into music until I started 5th grade. I actually taught myself how to code HTML, JavaScript, Ruby, etc when I was eight, and that was something I really enjoyed when I was younger. Music was just something that came to me by chance.

What inspired you to try music at all?

When I was five, my mom started enrolling me into classical piano lessons and when I was eleven, I started learning how to play the guitar. Although I didn’t really like piano, my mom still forced me to do it for quite a while, until I was about 13 or so. EDM production and the mainstream style that you hear in my songs were just from me learning on YouTube. It’s not something I was inspired to do, it was just simply that I was bored on a summer afternoon so I decided to download the first music software I ever used, Logic Pro.

How would you describe your musical style and how did you get into this style of music?

I consider my music style more mainstream, like the Chainsmokers type. It’s a combination of electronic dance music with pop. I got into this style just by listening to it often on the radio. My first songs were electro house; however, after I started listening to average pop radio stations, I started being influenced by the instrumentals I heard on those songs.

What artists do you look up to right now?

The main artists I look up to right now are the Chainsmokers, Martin Garrix, Jon Bellion, and Jake Miller. When I make a song, I try to emulate their styles just because of the cleanliness of the songs and how well produced, sung, and made the songs are. In addition, they are so loyal to their fans – and I not only want to be like them in music, but also in character.

Whats your friends and parents thoughts on your music career?

Honestly, my parents are okay with what I am doing so long as I maintain a good grade in school and they know everything that I do. My friends are super supportive, and many of them actually live stream on my social media accounts.

How would you describe yourself in 5 words?

Hard-working, caring, trustworthy, dedicated, and kind. 🙂

You just released your new album “Success vs. Regret” a few days ago. Whats was the process like creating the album?

So first thing I do before creating the album is I create a theme that I want all the songs to be surrounded on. From there, I work on the instrumentals for the album and I also start working on writing the lyrics. After that, I send them out to a few singers to sing over, and once I get that back, I mix and master everything to make sure everything is perfect before I release it. Honestly, it’s actually way longer than that, but with time and dedication, I can turn a boring instrumental to an upbeat and smooth song.

Did you write the songs for your album? If yes, whats the process for you to write one of your songs?

I partially wrote the lyrics for the song. Mainly all I did was come up with the themes and generic idea for the song and work on a sketch for the verses. Then the singer of the song would edit that and change it as necessary and send it back to me to approve before continuing to work on the vocals.

What would you say is the main topic of “Success vs. Regret”?

The main topic of of the album is pretty simple. Too many times in life we focus on the negative – bad decisions, etc. Rather, we should be thinking about the positive in our lives – the good decision, our successes, etc. I want to give my supporters uplifting music to help them think positively and to strive to be the best they could be.

Are there any other projects in the works you can tell us about?

Yes! I have a few singles that I will be releasing in the next few months. Some of these will be with a few of my friends and I can’t wait to be sharing those with you. I am also super interested in acting, so expect to see me in a few projects!

Did you have a “break out” song that started things for you with your followers?

Actually I did not. Before Success vs. Regret, my last EP I dropped was in 2015. In July, I started being active on Músical.ly and Instagram and I kind of blew up on those platforms.

Are you planning to tour or do any shows to promote your new album?

Hopefully! It’s too soon to say but if you stay connected with my Instagram and my website, I’ll definitely be posting the shows I’ll be performing at as they come.

Whats your favorite song to perform live?

My favorite song to perform is “With You” from the new album. I really like how it sounds live and it is a super dope song to play.

Whats the feeling you get when on stage and your fans are singing your songs back to you?

It’s unbelievable. Honestly, while I am on stage, I get super nervous performing; however, the fact that my supporters get into the songs is relieving and so amazing. It is something that I never thought would happen and it is so inspirational to me.

Does your fanbase have a name?

Haha yes! FlashNation! It’s just something I thought of when I was younger and I think it’s super simple.

How do you want your relationship to be with your fans?

Honestly, I try to be so active with my supporters. I try to respond to most of my Instagram DM’s and all my Snapchats. I also love talking to my supporters on my live streams and on HouseParty. I wish I could chat with my fans on my Musical.ly DM’s; however, I get way too many DM’s to respond to and whenever I try to click on my DM’s on Musical.ly, the app crashes.

What was the craziest fan encounter you have had?

Aside from fans sitting and waiting outside of my hotel rooms for me, I haven’t had that many crazy fan encounters yet. However, the first fan encounter I ever remember was when I was at vacation. A fan came up to me to say hi while I was on the treadmill at 12 mph sweating like crazy.

What social media platform do you use most to stay connected to your fans?

I mainly use Instagram and Musical.ly’s live streaming. I love Instagram and I always try to respond to all my fans on there. I also live stream at least twice a week.

What’s an average day for you look like?

Oh boy haha. Despite the fact that I go to school and I have a lot of homework, I spend most of my time is live streaming, making Musical.lys, working on sponsorship deals, and working on new music. Outside of that, I also enjoy practicing basketball, tennis, and hanging out with my friends.

If your life was a movie, what would be the title?

The title would be called “Dream Big” – that is what I tell my fans every day and that is my motto. I like to express that because the only way you can chase your goals is by dreaming big.

Who would you want to play you?

Cameron Dallas because he is a big inspiration to me and before acting, he started as a social media influencer like me. He is so good at everything he does, and literally every movie that he is in is amazing.

What has been your biggest accomplishment in your music career so far?

Honestly I think my biggest accomplishment has been all the tours and events I’ve had the opportunity to perform with. It is amazing to play my songs in front of hundreds of people and I am truly grateful for everything I’ve been given.

Whats the best thing thats come out of this career so far?

The best thing that has come out are all the opportunities I’ve been given and all the friends I’ve made. It is truly unbelievable how far I’ve gotten from when I started music and even from when I started social media, less than a year ago.

What’s your biggest struggle in this career so far?

Honestly, the biggest struggle is promotion. While producing and making songs are simple, it is hard to grow, gain promotion, and get more people to listen and buy your album.

Do you have any advice for aspiring music artists?

I would just say to not wait and take every opportunity you are given. Honestly, the worst thing is to just aspire and not take action. You have to start from somewhere, so take the necessary steps you need to grow you career. By working hard, you will be given so many opportunities that you never would have expected.

What goals have you set out for yourself in your music career?

I have so many goals; however I really want to go on my own sold out stadium world tour. I think that sounds dope, and I know I have a long way to go before that will ever happen. However I am so dedicated to what I do, and I strive to make the best music I can.

What do you hope to gain in 5 years time in this career?

I hope to gain a better insight on what I want to do as I get older – if I want to continue this or if I should pursue something else. I also hope to gain many new friends and contacts for whatever path I choose.

Do you have any last things you want to tell your fans?

I love you all so much! It’s truly unbelievable how far we’ve came even in the last year. You guys make my dreams come true every day and you guys inspire me to continue doing what I do. Keep Dreaming Big!

Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to do this interview with me.